Preserving Our Past: Join the Public Consultation for the 2025 Built and Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan

Ireland Seeks Public Input on Climate Adaptation Plan for Built and Archaeological Heritage

Ireland’s Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is inviting the public to contribute to the development of a new Built and Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan. The draft plan, released in July 2025, outlines a strategic framework for strengthening the resilience of Ireland’s heritage against the escalating threats posed by climate change.

The public consultation is open until 5pm on 29 July 2025, and submissions can be made via email or post.

A Critical Juncture for Irish Heritage

Ireland’s rich built and archaeological heritage—from megalithic tombs and early Christian monastic sites to Georgian streetscapes and industrial landmarks—faces growing risks from coastal erosion, flooding, temperature extremes, and shifting environmental baselines. These impacts are already observable, with tangible effects on ancient structures, buried remains, and vulnerable historic towns.

In response, the Built & Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan (SAP I), first adopted in 2019, is undergoing a revision. The Built & Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan was first formulated by then Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht using a six-step planning cycle. This updated plan (SAP II) forms part of Ireland’s broader obligations under the National Adaptation Framework (NAF) that was published in 2024, which mandates sector-specific strategies to prepare for and adapt to climate change across public services.

Purpose of the Consultation

Ultimately, the second plan also aims to build on the progress made by the first plan’s progress and lessons learned.

The draft plan sets out a policy foundation, guiding principles, and a suite of adaptation actions aimed at mitigating risk and improving long-term resilience. Through this public consultation, the Department seeks feedback that will shape the final version of the plan to be submitted to Government later this year.

Interested parties—including conservationists, local authorities, heritage groups, academics, and members of the public—are invited to share observations on:

• The clarity and scope of the plan’s objectives

• The relevance and practicality of proposed actions

• Gaps in research, policy, or sectoral coordination

• Local insights or evidence relating to climate impacts on heritage assets

Submissions will inform the finalised plan and may be published (with personal data removed) on the Department’s website. All submissions are subject to Freedom of Information (FOI) and Data Protection legislation.

What’s in the Draft Plan?

The 2025 draft plan includes:

• An assessment of climate risks to Ireland’s tangible heritage assets

• Institutional and policy context outlining roles and responsibilities across Government and agencies

• Goals and priority actions grouped under thematic areas including data gathering, capacity building, monitoring, and collaboration

• Commitments to improve inter-agency coordination, promote best practice, and support local-level adaptation

In particular, the plan stresses the importance of safeguarding vulnerable assets—such as coastal archaeological sites, historic graveyards, and vernacular architecture—through a mix of scientific research, public engagement, and adaptive conservation techniques.

2025 Built and Archaeological Heritage CCSAP Goals

The proposed goals for the draft plan include:

• Improving understanding of the heritage resource and its vulnerability to climate change impacts
• Develop and mainstream sustainable policies and plans for climate change adaptation of built and archaeological heritage
• Conserve Ireland’s heritage for future generations
• Communicate and transfer knowledge
• Exploit the opportunities for built and archaeological heritage to contribute co-benefits

How to Participate

Submissions can be emailed to:
climatechange@housing.gov.ie

Or sent by post to:
National Monuments Service
Custom House,
Dublin 1,
D01 W6X0

All responses must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, 29 July 2025.

The draft adaptation plan and associated documents, including the privacy statement, are available for download at: Gov.ie – Sectoral Adaptation Plan (2025) – Public Consultation

A Shared Responsibility for the Past and the Future

This sectoral adaptation plan is more than a policy document—it is a roadmap for preserving Ireland’s tangible cultural legacy in the face of profound environmental change. As such, the consultation presents a rare opportunity for citizens, experts, and organisations to directly influence heritage resilience policy at national level.

Public engagement is not just encouraged—it is essential. As stewards of a cultural landscape that spans millennia, Ireland’s response to climate challenges must reflect both expert knowledge and local experience.

Whether you’re a professional in conservation, a community historian, or simply a concerned citizen who values Ireland’s heritage, your input can help shape how we protect our shared history in an era of rising climate risks.